'Thank you,' answered Logotheti. 'I'm glad to know the facts in the case, though I never could see what a man's private life can have to do with his reputation in the money market!'
'Well, it has, in some countries. Different kinds of cats have different kinds of ways. There's one thing more, but it's not in the letter, it's in the article. That's about Countess Leven, and it's the worst lie of the lot, for there's not a better woman than she is from here to China. I'm not at liberty to tell you anything of the matter she's interested in and on which she consults me. But her father is my next neighbour here, and I seem to be welcome at his house; he's a pretty sensible man, and that makes for her, it seems to me. As for that husband of hers, we've a good name in America for men like him. We'd call him a skunk over there. I suppose the English word is polecat, but it doesn't say as much. I don't think there's anything else I want to tell you.'
'You spoke of my uncle, the Patriarch,' observed Logotheti.
'Did I? Yes. Well, what sort of a gentleman is he, anyway?'
The question seemed rather vague to the Greek.
'How do you mean?' he inquired, buttoning his coat over the wonderful waistcoat.
'Is he a friendly kind of a person, I mean? Obliging, if you take him the right way? That's what I mean. Or does he get on his ear right away?'
'I should say,' answered Logotheti, without a smile, 'that he gets on his ear right away--if that means the opposite of being friendly and obliging. But I may be prejudiced, for he does not approve of me.'
'My uncle says I'm a pagan, and worship idols.'
'Maybe he means the Golden Calf,' suggested Mr. Van Torp gravely.
'The other deity in business is the Brazen Serpent, I believe,' he retorted.
'The two would look pretty well out there on my lawn,' answered Mr. Van Torp, his hard face relaxing a little.
'To return to the point. Can I be of any use to you with the Patriarch? We are not on bad terms, though he does think me a heathen. Is there anything I can do?'
'Thank you, not at present. Much obliged. I only wanted to know.'
Logotheti's curiosity was destined to remain unsatisfied. He refused Mr. Van Torp's not very pressing invitation to stay to luncheon, given at the very moment when he was getting into his motor, and a few seconds later he was tearing down the avenue.